Webinar: Pennsylvania Travel Restriction and Ban Final Draft

Travel Restriction and Ban Final Draft

During the webinar, you will receive a summary of the, "Travel Restriction and Ban Final Draft" as well as information on where find updates and information before, during and after hazardous weather events.

To make sure you will receive timely updates, become a member of the PA Business Emergency Operations Center. Visit the PA BEOC dashboard at: https://share.dhs.gov/paboc to download the agreement and learn more.

What you need to know about the creation of the Restriction and Ban Final Draft:

• The Travel Restriction and Ban Final Draft is a collaborative effort among PA State Police, PA Turnpike, PA Department of Transportation and PA Emergency Management Agency.

• It will remain in draft format until an evaluation of how the procedures work for this winter weather season can be completed and then update the document if warranted.

• The purpose is to minimize the disruption to transportation on Pennsylvania highways while ensuring the safety of the motoring public during winter weather events.

• It incorporates feedback received from the private sector after implementing the travel restrictions and bans last winter weather season.

• It focuses on preventative actions to avoid long term road closures and stranding motorists for extended periods of time.

• It only applies to limited access highways (interstates and PA Turnpike) and limited-access look a likes.

Major changes from last season’s approach are as follows:

• Anytime a 45 MPH speed restriction is implemented a right lane only restriction will be implemented for commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles towing trailers, RV’s, buses, etc.

• The restrictions are tiered and will be implemented on an as needed basis based on weather conditions and feedback received through the various state agencies regarding road conditions

• PennDOT will be modifying their 511 map to provide for a separate tab or layer that will reflect real-time the various restrictions and bans as they are implemented and/or lifted

• A separate category has been added to permit loaded commercial vehicles that have chains available to them for at least two wheels (or approved alternate traction devices, such as automatic tire chains) to continue to travel in certain conditions. The chains do not need to be on the wheels, but need to be available in case the commercial vehicle becomes stopped and needs assistance getting restarted on snow or ice covered roadways

• Tandem trailers are now in a separate tier of restrictions

• There is a standard list of blanket exemptions to the travel restrictions and bans to support emergency response, public utility restoration, liquid fuels delivery to critically low customers, public transit authorities, and other critical sectors during times of inclement weather